Longtime Swisschamp Users, Review/Comments Please?

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SuzukiGS750EZ

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Just want to see what the swisschamp users around here have to say about it. Any cool stories or interesting things to say about them? How have they held up?
 
My nephew gave me his Champ, because he is young and only likes tacticool knives. It was filthy, the main blad twisted, and the pen blade broken. Well, I cleaned it up, straightened the main blade, and ground the pen into a kind of modified sheepsfoot. It is the older version, with no hook. I love it. The blades take a wicked edge. I have used the pliers many times to fix small wire rings on tie chains and necklaces. My kids like to use the saw, when we are camping, to cut down saplings for walking sticks. The saw goes through 2inches of evergreen sapling in about 5-10 seconds. The magnifier is useful for finding splinters and examining the edges of other knives. Scissors, fiel/metal saw, chisel, awl, corkscrew, screwdrivers, can opener, bottle opener... tweezers pulled a tick off of my neice last camping trip, nice to have a back-up pen with me, too. Always rides in a belt sheath, which also holds a small sharpening steel. Good companion.
 
The wood saw works great, but when you use it a ton of sawdust and crap gets on the knife and you gotta clean it out, no biggie. The pliers are perfect, I use them alot, and the little wire snipper on the pliers is perfect for 24 guage snare wire. I especially like the ball point pen, Im always needing to write down some info but dont have a working pen, until I got the champ of course. The scissors are great as well, I end up using them more than the knife blades. Im not so sure about the metal saw, havent really used it, but the files on either side of it work fine. The rest of the tools such as the blades, can and bottle openers, etc work fine. Id definetly reccomend a champ over a leatherman type multi tool.

ETA: The thinner tools such as the wood saw will hold up fine as long as you dont twist it around or some other dumb shit while sawing.
 
I started carrying mine as an EMT in 1991, still use it regularly.

If you can pocket carry it with any trouble, it's a handy one to have.
 
Might have something to contribute here...


Pre-Swisschamp...

I have had a SAK (or similar multibladed knife) in my "kit" since I was a teenager, starting with a GI four blade (1983-1988?). I then seen an Olive Drab "Mauser" Commemorative model at a gun shop and bought it and it then became my main SAK-type knife (1988-1990?). With the first two knives, I knew they served multiple roles, but I didn't consider myself a hardcore SAK "nut" then.

After that, I caught the "multitool" bug, and bought and carried a Leatherman tool from about 91(?) or so, and sorta started feeling that the Leatherman-style tools had "obsoleted" the old SAK style knives.

Sometime around 1994 or 1995 (?) I read an article where numerous military and civilian survival instructors and special forces soldiers voted for their favorite "if I could only have one" survival knife. I KNEW it would NOT be a "RAMBO" knife but I was shocked that "some form of Swiss army knife" won out over all the other customs and factory knives. That jarred my thinking on the subject form that day on.

At about the same time, a buddy picked up a Swisschamp, and handling it and watching him use it on a couple of overnight trips put the hook in me.


Swisschamp...

My wife (who was then my fiance') bought me a Swisschamp (we'll call it "Swisschamp #1") for my birthday in 1996, and it rated right up there at the top of the "coolest gift I had ever received" chart. I used the knife for ALL KINDS of tasks, in the house, in the garage, in the woods, in the car, and at work (as a deputy sheriff.)

I found that often, the BLADES were the tools I used least, since I have always ran a dedicated "one-hand opening pocket knife" as my first line user, if I was not wearing a fixed blade (like when hiking or camping). With all my SAKs, I have always spared the SMALL BLADE and considered it a "scalpel" for first aid or medical use. For that use I keep it unused, clean, and razor sharp. The LARGE BLADE's use is evident, self-explanitory, and unlimited.

I was shocked to find that I used the SCISSORS and the INK PEN probably more than any other tools! I read an article by Leroy Thompson once where he mentioned how often he used the scissors, clipping coupons, newspaper articles, magazine articles, etc, mentioning that he spent alot of time on airplanes (how times have changed!) Although small, I was amazed at the quality of the scissors.

The INK PEN was always there, when I could find no other writing implement in my vehicle. It isn't something I'd want to write A LOT with, but I have filled out countless deposit slips at the bank, notes to leave on cars or doors of friends or family, made shopping lists on the fly, etc. Of course this isn't life or death "survival" on a desert island, and I won't dare act like some of the urban wussies where this MIGHT be made to be life or death (the "I can't live without my Blackberry!" types...) These thing however make a small problem a NON-issue, and makes day to day life a little smoother.

I used the STRAIGHT PIN a lot also, as a toothpick (that was one item-the provided PLASTIC TOOTHPICK-that I wasn't that happy with...never worked that good for me), a pin to pick splinters, etc.

***TIP-make a bend, ever so slight in the INK PEN and STRAIGHT PIN to keep them secure in the handle.

At least three times, I've got cars going with the SAK-everytime involving battery terminals and cables. Using the PLIERS to loosen the nuts, and the FILE or SAW to "clean" corrosion away and make good contact surfaces.

The MINI SCREWDRIVER has been used for glasses many times.

Of course I have countless uses of the CAN OPENER and SCREWDRIVERS. The STRAIGHT EDGE SCREWDRIVER was used a lot when I was a city officer and worked a lot of traffic and ended up seizing a lot of registration plates.

As an aside, I have been in law enforcement for nearly 23 years, and I've never had to "cut down" a hanging victim (although I've seen a few hanging deaths). Also, I've never had to cut a wreck victim free (the ONE time I had a person still trapped in a car by the seatbelt alone, I was able to hit the release button...DUH!) I'm just saying this is MY EXPERIENCE, although every rookie and many non-LEOs think this is a weekly or monthly thing. If it helps you get permission to carry another knife or style of knife, then GO FOR IT, but it just don't happen much. Also, if you are using your own pocket knife to "scrape blood evidence" (another use I often hear cited to "justify" carrying a knife) then you are a fool, from a biohazard standpoint.

My beloved companion (Swisschamp #1) that I had for ten years was burned/ruined in a car fire when my Crown Victoria caught fire and burned in 2006. : (

I replaced it two months later with a brand new Swisschamp (Swisschamp #2) but it isn't the same one that was purchased by my wife for my birthday... : (

It is still used and carried in my "war bag" both on duty or off duty.
 
I would reccomend the Swiss Champ Plus. It doesn't have the pliers, though. Forty dollars cheaper than the normal Champ. $44.00 on REI
 
I own three Swisschamps. The first is my edc,a standard red cellidor one purchased in the mid 90s. It is in pretty good shape,though the scales are a bit worn looking. I haven't had to replace any detachable items yet and the pen still writes! Swisschamps are a bit big,but are manageable. My second Swisschamp is identical to the first except it has green cellidor scales. I purchased it from The Victorinox Store at the Westchester mall in White Plains NY. It is being stored away for now. My third champ is the hardwood version,a gift from the mrs. It is a beauty and I play around with it but rarely carry it. It lacks the pin and pen. My next swisschamp will be a Stayglow plus-scaled,old-style magnifying glass version! That will be a perfect edc! At least when I'm forced to stop carrying my farmers!
 
I have one that was given to me as a gift (with the SOS kit and leather case) from my father 20 years ago after graduating Army boot camp and it has been nearly indestructable. It's my favorite overall piece as far as backpacking gear, just super high quality and infinitely useful.

Edited to add- the pen still works after 20 years!!!!
 
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i own alot of saks including a sissbuck my wife gave me for a 35th anniversary present but have never had achamp. reading all the great stuff from you guys ithink iwill ask santa for one.
 
I remember I bought mine mail order for I think $36 while I was living in the dorms in 1980. It's been all over the world with me. In fact I remember having to surrender it to an airline pilot when I flew from Greece to England in 1986 (I got it back). I still carry it almost everyday, and it's done everything from car repairs to home theater installations.

I really like the scissors. I actually find the awl/reamer useful. Probably use the small blade more than anything else. A lot lighter than my Swisstool Spirit. Wish it had pliers though. Nothing has broken, though its a little gunked up from years of cutting though stuff with adhesives.
 
Bruise Lee said:
I remember I bought mine mail order for I think $36 while I was living in the dorms in 1980. It's been all over the world with me. In fact I remember having to surrender it to an airline pilot when I flew from Greece to England in 1986 (I got it back). I still carry it almost everyday, and it's done everything from car repairs to home theater installations.

I really like the scissors. I actually find the awl/reamer useful. Probably use the small blade more than anything else. A lot lighter than my Swisstool Spirit. Wish it had pliers though. Nothing has broken, though its a little gunked up from years of cutting though stuff with adhesives.
Click to expand...

Mine has pliers. Are you talking about the plus?
 
What's not to love? Tons of useful tools in relatively small package. The magnifier is wonderfully handy for those of us with not-so-perfect vision. The wood saw is legendary. Everybody needs a nail file now and then. The pliers are great for hobby work. A phillips screwdriver is always handy. I'd take a Swisschamp over most every plier-based multitool on the market today. I own a lot of Swiss Army Knives, and would put the Swisschamp easily in my Top 5 favorite models.

I have three Swisschamps myself, of various vintages.

1. Newer Swsschamp - Plastic magnifier and stainless steel file. The newer magnifier gets scratched easier than the old glass magnifiers, and has a lower power of magnification. But the lens distorts less than the older magnifiers. The newer file is far more aggressive. Not as good of a nail file as the older ones, but much better for fabricating other tools and repairing things. The metal saw on the file rocks!!!!

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2. Older Swisschamp - This model has the glass magnifier, along with the case hardened and chromed file. This is my favorite of my Swisschamps. The glass magnifier is nearly indestructible. The file works very well for doing your nails. I also dig the black scales on this one. Very classy looking. This older Swisschamp is still pretty easy to find on Ebay.

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3. Vintage Swisschamp - This one probably dates back to the early '90's. It has the "umbrella" tang stamp, and the scissors have the old screw instead of the newer rivet. I got it off Ebay in horrible condition, and had to nurse it back to health. The phillips driver was shredded, and the main blade had a bent tip. Lots of other issues as well. I made new scales out of orange G10, with the intention of making this a camping knife. It turned out pretty cool.

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I just bought two, gave one to my brother and i obviously got the other. Bought a ruby red one and a solid red. Kept the older one, i like the magnifying glass on it better and the longer phillips screwdriver. The newer driver feels gritty and so did the magnifying glass. Didn't like the fact that it's plastic.
 
I have carried 1 Swisschamp for about 14 years. It took a lot of beating (literally) and has seen a lot of dirt and (mis-)usage during my days in the army and working as a demolisher. I lost the Victorinox logo from hammering nails into wood and one of the scales is cracked. The little needle and springs of the scissors and pliers have been replaced 4 times over the years. The main blade has been worn down to approx. half it's width. The scissor-blades carry little burrs from cutting metal wire, as does the reamer.

And yet, the basic construction of the knife is like new, without any play or bend blades or tools. Even the scales are still holding up fine. The Swisschamp has been the best toolknife I've ever carried: extremely reliable and usefull. The only very minor "weeknesses" I can think of are the springs of the scissors and the pliers and the magnifying glass gets scratched over time from sand, etc. (The springs are easily replaced for little money, though; and even without the springs the scissors and pliers are still usable).

My favorite tools are the pliers, scissors, pen, reamer, woodsaw and main blade. The tools I used least are the pincers, magnifying glass and small blade.
 
I've been using SwssChamp extensively for past 6 years. Still very useful. A great alternative for leatherman. Wood saw cuts well and there really is not unecessary tools. Every tool you have in there might become well in handy, especially when camping.

I like the pliers of swisschamp. More than few times it has become saving grace when I've gotten splinter on finger or bottom of my foot. Tweezers lack the necessary grip.

My most used tool are main blade, pliers, scissors, woodsaw, screwdriver's and can opener.
 
It is the most useful multitool i own. I just carry a swisstool with it for the full sized pliers, larger ruler, serrated blade and thats about it. I carry a folder too but thats because the multis are a pain to get out.
 
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